The 6 Most Useless Holiday Gifts to Avoid

Everyone has ripped open a shiny gift that seems cool at first but starts collecting dust by the time the tinselly tree hits the curb.

So as you’re making your list and checking it twice, don’t get caught up in the hype of trendy, eye-catching items that might end up the bad gift hall of fame. Here are six items to pass up when shopping for your near and dear ones this year:

But it’s not just air fryers. Pro-organizers warn that any single purpose kitchen appliance can easily morph into clutter. For example, Denise Caron-Quinn, president of In Order to Succeed, puts hot dog steamers and egg cookers on her do-not-buy holiday gift list. And fondue sets are probably the number one unused item professional organizer Danielle Wurth, of Wurth Organizing, finds in clients’ homes.

“People think it’s a fun gift idea for entertaining, but it never gets used,” she said.

3. Towel Warmers

Spa bathrooms at home are all the rage, and that compels some gift givers to buy stuff like $100 towel-warming buckets. But, realistically, what are the chances your recipient is going to take the time to plug the device in to create toasty towels every time they take a shower?

You have to think about whether someone has time in their regimen and will realistically use an item, said professional organizer Tonia Tomlin, president and founder of Sorted Out. But going unused wouldn’t be the worst thing: towel warmers also can be fire hazards.

4. Eye Massagers

The latest, hottest beauty gadget: eye massagers that supposedly mimic the motion of fingers tapping under the eye to aid circulation. The claim is that these weird-looking devices get rid of under-eye bags and dark circles, but at over $100 a pop they’re pricy. And realistically, what are the chances your loved one is actually going to use this gadget every day? Also, Caron-Quinn says such a gift might be taken the wrong way, as a comment on the recipient’s appearance.

“Think about how it could be interpreted,” she said.

5. Thief-Blocking Wallets

The special RFID-blocking wallets that can stop thieves from skimming your credit card information in public are popular Christmas presents every year, according to CSO, a publication that covers security. These wallets can set you back anywhere from $5 for plastic one to $85 or more for leather. However, they’re useless because criminals simply aren’t walking around stealing information in this way, according to CSO. And these products can set off airport alarms said Tomlin, who ditched her RFID-blocking passport cover for that reason.

“Why would I want something that’s going to ding me every time I go through the scanner?” she said.

“The remote gets separated from the toy, or the batteries don’t work, or it crashes and breaks,” Gail said. “Always a disaster.”

Because one person’s perfect gift is another person’s clutter, it’s nice to casually tell the recipient that they can make an exchange, no hard feelings, if they don’t love the item, Caron-Quinn suggests.